We are settling down nicely, says Cook

“We would have liked to have faced more spin in the matches but that hasn’t happened," the England Test captain said.

Ahmedabad: His team did not get what would have been a morale-boosting win, but captain Alastair Cook was happy with England’s preparations ahead of the opening Test against India that starts on November 15.

“Everyone’s got a chance to play in the three practice games. It was a good workout for the team. We are settling down nicely,” said Cook after the third practice match against Haryana ended in a draw .

Regarding lack of quality opposition in the last two matches, Cook stated, “We would have liked to have faced more spin in the matches but that hasn’t happened."

“If anyone has been watching our training sessions while these games have been going on, we’ve had some good spinners bowling to us in the nets. We’d rather them in the middle, but they’ve been turning out there and all the lads have been putting in some really good practice."

“I don't know who it has come from but clearly there’s been a message of some sort. Obviously we’ve had Amit Mishra missing here."

“I don’t know if he was injured or not but he didn’t bowl that many overs… So clearly there’s been a message of some kind.”

Asked whether not exposing quality spinners in the practice matches would backfire on India, Cook again presented a straight bat.

“Only time will tell. But we have had good spinners bowling to us in the nets,” he said.

On the impressive show by bowlers in the last session of the final day, Cook said it was encouraging to see them deliver even on an unresponsive pitch.

England reduced Haryana to 133/6 in 42 overs in the last session with the last four wickets falling for 45 runs.

Yorkshire fast bowler Tim Bresnan bowled an incisive spell of aggressive fast bowling, picking up two wickets for four runs in as many overs.